Shaw’s plans to close its supermarket in Westbrook, the company confirmed Friday.
In a statement, Shaw’s spokesperson Teresa Edington did not provide details about the timing of the closure.
“Like all retailers, we’re constantly evaluating the performance of our stores,” she said. “Closing a location is always a tough decision, but we’re focused on continuing to provide the products and services our customers value most in Maine and beyond.”
Edington said the company aims to relocate as many of the Westbrook employees as possible to other Shaw’s locations. She did not say how many employees work at the location or specify a reason for the closure.
There are 19 other Shaw’s locations in the state, including in Portland, Freeport, Brunswick, Scarborough and Windham, according to the store’s website. The chain closed its Biddeford location in 2015.
Shaw’s decision to close the Westbrook location comes during a time of stiff competition in the market.
Westbrook is also home to a Hannaford supermarket, and Market Basket, a Massachusetts-based chain known for its low prices, opened its second Maine location in Westbrook in August 2020.
The Biddeford Shaw’s closed just two years after Market Basket opened down the street. That location also faced competition from nearby Hannaford, Walmart and Target locations.
However, officials said at the time that Market Basket’s arrival was not the main reason Shaw’s closed its Biddeford location. The store had not been meeting performance expectations for quite some time, the company said.
Owned by Idaho-based supermarket chain Albertsons, Shaw’s also has locations in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont and Rhode Island.
It is one of the oldest continuously operating supermarket chains in the country, dating to 1860, when George C. Shaw opened his first store in Portland.
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